Cluster-socket.



J. 0. TOURNIBR.

. CLUSTER SOUKET.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1908'.

Patented Mar. 29,1910.

Fig. 1..

Inventor" Julius C. Togrnier,

Witnesses:

having certain details of construction by U ITED STATESEEQENT OFFICE.

JULIUS G; TOURNIER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YGRK.

CLUSTER-SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, JULIUS G. TOURNIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of NewYork, have invented certain newfiand useful Improvements in Cluster-Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto electric lighting, and its object is to providea cluster socket which reduced breakages and greater security of theparts are afforded.

In cluster sockets of the attachment plug type heretofore made, the bodyof the plug is made of molded porcelain, in which are recesses tocontain sheet metal shells into which the lamps are screwed. Theprojecting ends of the shells are provided with an ornamental ring ofmolded porcelain having internal screw-threads which mesh with those onthe shell. When such a ring is screwed against the body, the abuttingsurfaces do not always meet exactly, owing to slight irregularities inthe molded porcelain, and there is danger of breaking the ring orchipping the body if the ring is screwed up too tight. Moreover, in sucha construction, the vibration of the parts, due to vibrations in thebuilding in which the attachment is used, tends to cause the ring towork loose and fall off.

My invention aims toremedy these troubles by providing between the ringand thebody a flexible and somewhat resilient annulus, in thenature of agasket, which compensates for irregularities in the conformation of theparts, and also absorbs the vibrations and keeps the parts closelyunited. This will more clearly appear from the following detaileddescription and claims when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clustersocket; Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the upper section, of the body, partly in section on aplane at right angles to Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a side elevationof the lower section of the body, viewed at right angles to Figs. 1 and2.

The. body is preferably substantially spherical, with a neck projectingfrom the top. It is made in halves 1 and 2 meeting I on a planepreferably at right angles to the axis of the neck 3. Recesses 4 areformed in center of the body; a septum 5 being left he tween their innerends," The flat under face of the upper half 1 is countersunk, and adiametrical recess 6 is sunk into it at the center, having a septum 7dividing it into two chambers.

In each recess 1 is a screw-threaded, sheet-metal, cup-shaped socket orshell 8 to receive the neck of an incandescent lamp. Resting against thebottom of the shell is a ring 9 of heavier sheet-metal having a bent lug10 extending through a slot in the shell and located in one of thechambers on one side of the septum 7. A long screw 11 runs down throughone side of the neck 3 and is screwed into a tapped hole in the lug 10.The two screws 11 pass through a flange on a screw-threaded shellcontact 12 which fits over the neck 3. Covering the heads of said screwsis a washer 13 through which passes a central screw H whose head is sunkin a cupped metal washer l5, and whose lower end engages with a metalyoke 16 having bent ends lying adjacent to the bottoms of the shells 8but insulated therefrom by mica or other insulating material 17. A screw18 passes through the large hole in the ring 9 and a large hole in thebottom of the shell and into a tapped hole in the yoke, thus securingeach shell to said yoke. Mica or other insulation 19 is placed betweenthe ring 9 and the head of the screw 18 or its washer 20. The end ofeach shell 8 projects beyond the body and receives a finishing ring ornut 21 of molded porcelain, having internal screw-threads to mesh intothose on the shell. In order to prevent this ring from coming intocontact with the body a thin, sheet-metal collar 22 is placed around it,abutting against the body and against a shoulder 23 on the ring. Thiscollar accommodates itself to any irregularities in the surface of theporcelain and enables the ring to be screwed up tight Patented Mar. 29,1910..

without danger of breaking it, because there assists in centering theshell in itsrecess, and forms a neat and pleasing finlsh between thering and the body. By removing the rings and collars, the lower half ofthe body is free to be removed, giving easy access to the shells andtheir fastenings.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. The combination of two insulating base portions, one of said portionshaving a pair of lamp contacts connected to one side thereof, the otherof said portions having a U-shaped recess, an insulating ring engagingone or" the lamp contacts, and a metallic annulus interposed betweensaid ring and said base.

2. The combination of two insulating base portions, one of said portionshaving one or more screw shell contacts connected to one side thereof,the other of said portions having one or more recesses corresponding tosaid contacts, a ring of insulat ing material screwed upon each shellcontact, and a yielding annulus interposed between said ring and saidbase.

3. The combination of a spherical insulating base divided into portions,the upper portion having one or more screw shell contacts secured to itsdivision surface, the lower portion having one or more recessescorresponding to said contacts, a ring of insulating material screwedupon each shell contact, and a yielding annulus interposed between saidring and said base.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of July,1908.

JULIUS C. TOURNIER. Vitnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD.

